Eighth Air Force

The Eighth Air Force (8 AF) is a numbered air force of the US Air Force that was activated in 1942. The 8 AF was formed in England during World War II as the VII Bomber Command, but it was renamed to the Eighth Air Force on 22 February 1944, and it engaged in operations primarily in northern Europe. The 8 AF carried out the strategic bombing of enemy targets in France, the Low Countries, and Germany, and it engaged in air-to-air fighter combat with the Luftwaffe until the German surrender in May 1945. Elements of 8 AF would go on to fight in the Korean War, Vietnam War, and Iraq War.